Context-aware emotion-based model for group decision making

Involving groups in important management processes such as decision making has several advantages. By discussing and combining ideas, counter ideas, critical opinions, identified constraints, and alternatives, a group of individuals can test potentially better solutions, sometimes in the form of new products, services, and plans. In the past few decades, operations research, AI, and computer science have had tremendous success creating software systems that can achieve optimal solutions, even for complex problems. The only drawback is that people don’t always agree with these solutions. Sometimes this dissatisfaction is due to an incorrect parameterization of the problem. Nevertheless, the reasons people don’t like a solution might not be quantifiable, because those reasons are often based on aspects such as emotion, mood, and personality. At the same time, monolithic individual decisionsupport systems centered on optimizing solutions are being replaced by collaborative systems and group decision-support systems (GDSSs) that focus more on establishing connections between people in organizations. These systems follow a kind of social paradigm. Combining both optimization- and socialcentered approaches is a topic of current research. However, even if such a hybrid approach can be developed, it will still miss an essential point: the emotional nature of group participants in decision-making tasks. We’ve developed a context-aware emotion based model to design intelligent agents for group decision-making processes. To evaluate this model, we’ve incorporated it in an agent-based simulator called ABS4GD (Agent-Based Simulation for Group Decision), which we developed. This multiagent simulator considers emotion- and argument based factors while supporting group decision-making processes. Experiments show that agents endowed with emotional awareness achieve agreements more quickly than those without such awareness. Hence, participant agents that integrate emotional factors in their judgments can be more successful because, in exchanging arguments with other agents, they consider the emotional nature of group decision making.

The impact of safety politics in the current globalization context

The globalization is a process of economical, social, cultural and political integration motivated by the needs generated by a consumption-orientated society and a set of factors that have led to its development, such as reducing transport costs, the technological advancement and the development of communication networks. However, the phenomenon of globalization has been accompanied by increasing levels of insecurity as a result of various types of threats and transnational crimes that the International Community seeks to control and minimize. Throughout this work, we examined how the globalization process has been developing and how nations are able to maintain security levels consistent with their economical status and social development, without disturbing the normal course of organizations’ economical activity and the well-being of people. From the investigation developed we concluded that, besides the confirmation that economic integration and the opening of markets have influence on internal consumption, market globalization and migrations have been causing modifications in the consumption habits. We also concluded that the security measures implemented by States or by the International Community affect international trade, but do not imply disproportionate costs or significant delays in transactions. Likewise, we concluded that the control measures implemented in international trade are sufficient to ensure the safety of the people and nations, enabling us to confirm two of the three conjectures raised in this study.

O processo ensino-aprendizagem: relatório de estágio

I - Inserido no Concelho de Odivelas, cuja realidade e contexto sócio cultural realçam a problemática da diversidade cultural, colocando ao professor dúvidas e dificuldades emrelação às suas práticas educativas, o Conservatório de Música D. Dinis é a escola na qual leciono desde 1993. É também local de reflexão permanente quanto aos critérios e condições que devem nortear a prática pedagógica contemporânea na área da música, cujo objetivo assenta na formação integral do aluno através da utilização de estratégias de ensino que o responsabilizem na própria aprendizagem. Considerando estes desafios, o seguinte trabalho será realizado no contexto da minha classe de violino e incidirá sobre três alunos em particular, que frequentam os seguintes graus, a saber: 1 - Iniciação (1º ciclo do ensino básico); 2 - 2º grau (2º ciclo do ensino básico); 3 - 5º grau (3º ciclo do ensino básico). Apesar de acreditar nas suas capacidades de aprendizagem e ter um cuidado especial sobre as minhas ações e os efeitos destas na aprendizagem académica e social dos meus alunos, os resultados finais são reveladores da importância da motivação, do apoio parental e da responsabilidade dos alunos na obtenção do seu próprio sucesso escolar.

Using Baseline Methods to Identify Non-technical Losses in the Context of Smart Grids

Demand response has gained increasing importance in the context of competitive electricity markets and smart grid environments. In addition to the importance that has been given to the development of business models for integrating demand response, several methods have been developed to evaluate the consumers’ performance after the participation in a demand response event. The present paper uses those performance evaluation methods, namely customer baseline load calculation methods, to determine the expected consumption in each period of the consumer historic data. In the cases in which there is a certain difference between the actual consumption and the estimated consumption, the consumer is identified as a potential cause of non-technical losses. A case study demonstrates the application of the proposed method to real consumption data.

Information professionals in business context: new professionals, old skills

This communication aims to present some reflections regarding the importance of information in organizational context, especially in business context. The ability to produce and to share expertise and knowledge among its employees is now a key factor in the success of any organization. However, it’s also true that workers are increasingly feeling that too much information can hurt their performance. The existence of skilled professionals able to organize, evaluate, select and disseminate information in organizations appears to be a prerequisite for success. The skills necessary for the formation of a professional devoted to the management of information and knowledge in the context of business organizations will be analysed. Then data collected in two focus group discussion with students from a graduate course in Business Information, from Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal, a will be examined.

Sonhos e expectativas de jovens do ensino básico em contexto multicultural e económicamente desfavorecido

O intenso fluxo migratório na Europa nas últimas décadas, em função do desemprego e de carências sociais e económicas noutras regiões, que obrigou as populações a deslocarem-se para outros territórios em busca de melhores condições de vida, conduziu a novos questionamentos. Esta nova reconfiguração populacional originou novas gerações de imigrantes espalhados pela Europa. Portugal não fica atrás desta mudança, pelo contrário, pois é um dos países dentro da União Europeia (UE) que mais acolhe os imigrantes. Perante estas novas mudanças na Europa, nomeadamente em Portugal, como estas novas gerações de imigrantes veem esta nova realidade? Quais são os seus sonhos e objetivos? O que eles pensam acerca do futuro? O presente estudo tem por objetivo saber o que pensam os jovens imigrantes e economicamente desfavorecidos num mundo cada vez mais globalizado, pois acredita-se que a forma como vemos o mundo irá definir não somente o futuro de cada indivíduo mas também o futuro do país onde vivemos. A escola, como um dos principais meios para o desenvolvimento integral dos seus alunos, tem um papel definitivo na sua formação. Por isso, o presente trabalho realizou uma investigação empírica com alunos do 1º, 2º e 3º ciclos de origem portuguesa, africana, brasileira e ucraniana numa Escola em Lisboa, a fim de saber quais são os seus sonhos e expetativas em relação ao futuro. O trabalho divide-se em duas partes: a primeira compreende a apresentação de conceitos referentes à educação multicultural, contexto economicamente desfavorecido, jovem do ensino básico e economicamente desfavorecido, expetativas e autoestima em contexto escolar. Já na segunda parte, a investigação apresenta a metodologia, a qual tem uma abordagem qualitativa e exploratória. Neste capítulo houve dois procedimentos para a recolha de dados: o primeiro foi a aplicação de 35 questionários aos alunos e o segundo foi uma entrevista presencial com a Direção da Escola. Estas técnicas de recolha de informação permitiram-nos confrontar as expetativas dos jovens de origem imigrante e economicamente desfavorecida com as expetativas da Escola em relação a eles, apontando para uma clara dissonância face às ideias dos jovens e às da Instituição Educativa. Perante este cenário de divergências, o presente trabalho levanta questões para futuras investigações, entre elas: como a escola portuguesa trabalha a autoestima dos jovens imigrantes e economicamente desfavorecidos? Por que um professor tem a tendência de acreditar que um jovem de classe social desfavorecida não tem condições de chegar a um curso superior? Estas e outras questões ficam para futuras investigações

Pedestrian Priority Zones in the Context of Urban Mobility and Valorization of Public Space

The second half of the XX century was marked by a great increase in the number of people living in cities. Urban agglomerations became poles of attraction for migration flows and these phenomena, coupled with growing car-ownership rates, resulted in the fact that modern transport systems are characterized by large number of users and traffic modes. The necessity to organize these complex systems and to provide space for different traffic modes changed the way cities look. Urban areas had to cope with traffic flows, and as a result nowadays typical street pattern consists of a road for motorized vehicles, a cycle lane (in some cases), pavement for pedestrians, parking and a range of crucial signage to facilitate navigation and make mobility more secure. However, this type of street organization may not be desirable in certain areas, more specifically, in the city centers. Downtown areas have always been places where economic, leisure, social and other types of facilities are concentrated, not surprisingly, they often attract large number of people and this frequently results in traffic jams, air and noise pollution, thus creating unpleasant environment. Besides, excessive traffic signage in central locations can harm the image and perception of a place, this relates in particular to historical centers with architectural heritage.

Rethinking the Portuguese banking sector in a post-crisis context

As the financial crisis hit the Portuguese banks, the profitability of the whole sector squeezed to historical minimums. Reinventing the banking business model in the post-crisis context is an overriding issue to achieve sustainable profits and a low cost-to-income ratio. We propose banks to adopt a true multichannel approach, proceeding to a branch network reformatting and a relocation of services to online channels; adopt a true customer-centric approach and reduce the product and services portfolio complexity; finally, industrialize operations and rationalize the structure. With these measures in place, Portuguese banks will become leaner and more efficient, aspiring to a cost-to-income ratio below 45%.

Dynamic delta hedging of autocallables under a discrete rebalancing context

This work tests different delta hedging strategies for two products issued by Banco de Investimento Global in 2012. The work studies the behaviour of the delta and gamma of autocallables and their impact on the results when delta hedging with different rebalancing periods. Given its discontinuous payoff and path dependency, it is suggested the hedging portfolio is rebalanced on a daily basis to better follow market changes. Moreover, a mixed strategy is analysed where time to maturity is used as a criterion to change the rebalancing frequency.

The effectiveness of the “Processo Especial de Revitalização” as an instrument of corporate restructuring in the context of the current economic crisis

This work project intends to evaluate the effectiveness of the Portuguese Government’s strategy to promote the orderly deleveraging of the corporate sector in the context of the current economic crisis. The recommendations of the Troika and the commitments assumed under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government in 2011 required the creation of formal processes to avoid disorderly deleveraging. Conclusions and recommendations were drawn based on past experiences of large-scale corporate restructuring strategies in other countries and on the analysis of financial and statistical data on companies applying for “Programa Especial de Revitalização”.

Importance of decision-making in a purchasing context – DPS Case Study

This work project has the objective of exploring the importance of making good decisions on supplier selection, so that the purchasing department can contribute to the success of a company. For that it is presented a short bibliography review of the latest insights that were found relevant, on the subjects of purchasing, technology, outsourcing, supplier selection and decision-making techniques. For a better understating on how to deal with a decision-making situation, a case study is also presented: Digital Printing Solutions (DPS) is a Portuguese company that provides complete and integrated printing solutions and has been planning to contract a software supplier. DPS has no formal supplier-selection model and it has to choose between 2 suppliers. The case study was solved using the M-MACBETH software. I have found that complex decisions-making situations can be easily overcome by using the M-MACBETH decision model. Moreover, the usage of a model, instead of decision that follows no formal procedure, provides the decision maker with insights that can be useful to negotiate with the supplier.

How servant leadership is perceiver by leaders and followers in a Portuguese organizational context

Servant leadership theory has been the subject of great academic discussion, namely in what concerns reaching a consensus for its definition. As many frameworks have been designed in order to define the servant leader’s characteristics, we based ourselves in van Dierendonck’s review and synthesis on servant leadership (2011) to assess how it is perceived in a Portuguese organizational context. After performing several interviews in a private health care organization, we conclude that the perception of servant leadership is generally positive and that its characteristics seem to be in line with academic literature. However, some issues arose such as a seemingly lack of relevance given to authenticity and humility, the latter being a unique attribute of servant leadership. Also, we found a discrepancy between hierarchical levels’ perception of servant leadership characteristics as well as questioning if an over emphasis on service can diminish the servant leader’s impact on organizational performance.

Critical incident study on forgiveness in the organizational context

Forgiveness has been subject of interest, mainly in the psychology fields of study. Relatively to the organizational context, this topic has been somehow put aside and settled as something that is purely an intra-individual phenomenon which organizations cannot force, or even stimulate. As conflicts are common within organizations and being often difficult to overcome, eyes have turned into the role forgiveness might take in this scenario. Despite forgiveness being accepted as an intrapersonal decision and a result of predisposition as it is a result of education and culture. This study, as some already done, refuses to accept forgiveness as an unchangeable behavior that cannot be manipulated or induced by managers or by organizational context. Therefore, offering a set of incidents as well as their classification, that have been identified by individuals performing different types organizational roles in different organization which is believed as being a genuine way of delivering to the reader a set of actions and behaviors that if taken, may incentivize or inhibit forgiveness.